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Nets beat Wizards in first game in Brooklyn

NEW YORK (AP) — Brooklyn's back in pro sports, and the Nets insisted on a triumphant return.

So, coach Avery Johnson sent All-Star point guard Deron Williams back on the floor with about 3 1/2 minutes left to help the Nets close out a 98-88 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night in the first basketball game at the Barclays Center.

Spectators head towards Barclays Center for a preseason NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards, Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Most starters, certainly players of Williams' caliber, would be on the bench for good by that stage of a preseason game. But Johnson wanted the victory, even catching Williams off guard when he told the Olympian to go back in.

"I just thought it was important," Johnson said. "I thought it was nice that our fans would go home with a good feeling about our team."

Brook Lopez had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who left New Jersey after last season for a new $1 billion home in Brooklyn. They were greeted by 14,219 fans on the night they became Brooklyn's first major pro sports team since the Dodgers left for Los Angeles in 1957.

With the Nets leading by six, Williams fed Gerald Wallace for a basket about 30 seconds after returning, and exchanged words and technical fouls with Wizards reserve A.J. Price after Price fouled him with 56.5 seconds remaining. The two jawed a couple of times over the final minutes.

Williams said Price, from Long Island, kept saying that he was home.

"It's my home now," Williams said. "I told him that."

And the Nets couldn't wait to get here.

Players said they expected fans would help them create a tough environment for visiting teams, but even opponents will probably enjoy playing here more than in the often empty Prudential Center, where the Nets spent the past two seasons.

"I think this city of Brooklyn is a proud city. They back anything that comes from their city. They rep it. They love it. It's their heart. They show support to it," Washington's Trevor Ariza said.

"It's fun to play in. The floor is dope. The arena is dope. It's a cool place to play."

Andray Blatche scored 16 points, Joe Johnson had 14 and Williams finished with 11 points and nine assists for the Nets, 2-0 in the preseason.